Delhi locked down for CJP’s Jantar Mantar protest; about 200 detained as metro, internet curbs hit capital

Delhi Police detained scores of protesters in central New Delhi on Saturday, 10 October, as the capital was locked down ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) “Jantar Mantar 2.0” protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Reuters reported.

About 200 protesters were detained in the area, a police source told Reuters. Those detained outside Delhi included YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who supports the protest, a police spokesperson said.

A city under lockdown

More than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed, and all roads leading to Jantar Mantar have been closed with metal barricades, the BBC reported. According to Reuters and the BBC:

• Dozens of metro stations and markets were shut, and mobile internet was suspended
• Several trains to Delhi were cancelled
• Police boarded buses and checked cars at entry points to the city
• Anti-riot vehicles with tear gas guns were stationed on key routes
• Traffic was diverted across central Delhi; the BBC said a 15-minute journey took more than an hour

Why permission was refused

Delhi Police have denied permission for the gathering. Police official Nupur Prasad told reporters that one reason was the “short notice” given by the CJP, the BBC reported.

Under current guidelines, an application to organise an event at Jantar Mantar must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date.

Nupur Prasad, Delhi Police, as quoted by the BBC

She said the CJP had also not followed “lawful directions” in the past. In a post on X, police said the measures were needed for public safety, noting that Jantar Mantar can hold only 1,000 people at a time. The CJP says it only has to inform the police and does not need their approval to gather.

What the organisers say

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the movement would march to Jantar Mantar “come what may”.

Why is the prime minister so scared of the country’s youth, the country’s people?

Abhijeet Dipke, CJP founder, as quoted by Reuters

The dispute behind the protest

Protesters accuse CEC Kumar of manipulating the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists to favour the BJP. The Election Commission says the exercise removes duplicate and ineligible entries; about 13 crore (130 million) names have been struck off so far, the BBC reported. Kumar has not commented, and the Election Commission and the BJP have denied the allegations, Reuters said.

The protest is backed by several opposition parties, farmer organisations and student groups, according to the BBC.

The Daily Rostrum reported on 8 October on the CJP’s Bengaluru protest and the police refusal for today’s rally.

Sources: Reuters, BBC.